Metal receptacle



1,632,733 s. HAMMER METAL RECEPTACLE Filed Feb;15 ,v 192s 2 sheets-sheet1 INVENTOR fizzle! Kam/7361 A ATTORNEY N n "BY June 14 1927.

June 14; 1927.

S. HAMMER METAL RECEPTACLE Filed Feb.l5, 1926 V 2 sheets-Sheet 2lNVEN-TOR w( M ATTORNEY Jamzze! Patented June 14, 11927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL HAMMER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED METAL 180x160.INC., OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METAL nncnrracnn.

Application ined February 1s, 1926. serial No. 88,294.

This invention relates to metal receptacles, and more particularly toboxes or receptacles such as are usually provided in a artment houses,hotels and other large buil ings for receiving Inail-of the tenantsresiding therein. However, it will be apparent as this descriptionproceeds that certain features of myA present improvements aresusceptible of application to various other analogous structuresdesigned for other uses, such for instance as electrical panel yboardsor switch boxes.

It is the primary object and purpose of this invention to provide animproved means for hingedly mounting the door for closing the mailreceiving compartment, upon the body of the receptacle whereby theassemblage of the parts will be greatly expedited. p

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide a box orreceptacle structure having al front plate provided with upper and lowerdoor opemngsl separated b a relatively narrow panel to ether with hingerods horizontally mounted 1n the walls of the box structure andpositioned above and below said separating panel and a door providedwith a part at one `end insertable between the hinge rod and the paneland adapted to be thereafter hingedly locked in connection with said rodfor swinging movement.

It is also another object of my invention, to provide the recept-acledoor of a relatively thin sheet df brass with a steel reinforcing plateonits inner surface having means.

formed on one of its ends for cooperative engagement with the hinge rodand: a simple and efective means for ixedly attaching said.

reinforcing plate whereby manufacturing costs in the production of thereceptacle may be reatl reduced.

lith t e above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved metal f receptacle and in the form, construction and relativearrangement of itsv several parts as will be hereinafter more fully'described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequentlyincorporated 1n the su joined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have shown one simple and practicalembodiment ofmy present improvements, and jin which similar shown in itsopen position-.a

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2; yFig. 5 is a detail vertical section taken onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectiontaken on theline 6-6 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 7 is a similar section taken on1 the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.'

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein I have disclosed a mail boxor receptacle corresponding in external form or appearance to the mailbox shown in my prior application for Patent Serial No. 712,945, filedMay 13, 1924, the body structure 5 of the box which may be of anyrequired dimensions is fabricated from sheet metal and may be of anyapproved construction. This box structure is adapted to be suitablymounted and secured in the usual way within a cavity or recess formed inthe face of the building wall and to suitable outwardly extendingflanges 6 on the top, bottom and side walls of said box structure at itsopen side the front frame late 7 'is secured. This frame plate is obrass having a highly finished surface and may be welded or otherwiseSecured to the flanges 6, said plate including a relatively narrowhorizontally extending anel 8 connecting theppposite vertical si eportions thereof and located approximately midway between the top andbottom portions of said frame and vertical spaced parts 8' connectinsaid anel with 4.the bottom portion. It wil thus e understood that thetop, bottom and side portionsof said frame in conjunction with thehorizontal 'panel 8 and parts 8 rovide upper` and lower openings in therame 7 through which access may be had to the interior of the box. Inthe illustrated condista-ntly spaced vertical` partitions 9 ex-v tendingfrom the top to thel bottom of the box and thus dividing the same into aseries of vertical compartments. Of course, it will be apparent that thebox may be .constructed of any desired width and provided with a greateror less number of the partitions 9 than herein shown so as to providetheirequired number of the individual mail receiving compartments. In areceptacle structure designed for the purpose of receiving mail, thevertical height of the compartments is such as to enable magazines andperiodicals of the maximum length now published to be contained withinsaid compartments. Any preferred method maybe employed for rigidlyattaching or securing the partitions 9 to the walls of the bodystructure 5. The upper portions of the individual mail compartmentsformed by the partitions 9 are closed by means of acommon door 10 whichcloses the upper opening in the front frame 7 of the box above thehorizontal panel 8 and in its closed position is disposed in the sameplane therewith-as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The lower openingsof the frame 7 and the lower portions of the several mail receivingcompartments of the box are closed by the .separate or individuall doors11 corresponding in number to the number of compartments. The upper door10 is provided upon the inner side thereof with a Suitable lockindicated at 12 of which only the postman possesses the proper key. Eachof the individual lower doors is provided on its inner side with a lock12 of which the respective tenants possess the proper keys. The lowerdoors 11 in their upper portions are provided with suitable ornamentalsight open ings 13.

The upper and lower doors are assembled and hingedly mounted upon thebox struc-- lower door plates 11. While various means might be employedfor rigidly securing the plates 15 and 16 to the respective door plates,for the (purpose of expediting such attachment an reducin manufacturingcosts, I preferably provi e slots 17 in the upper plate 10 coincidingwith similar slots 18 1n the reinforcing plates 15, and the metalpunched from the plate 10 to form the slots 17 provides a flange 19extending from one edge of each slot which is turned over and securelyclinched upon the inner face of the plate 15 as shown in Figs. 2 and Bof the drawings. rLhe reinforcing plates 16 on the lower doors 11 areattached in a similar manner by turning over flanges produced in formingthe openings which receive the locks 12 upon the inner face of the reinforcing plate. Also, at the other end of each door 11, the. metalthereof surrounding the central one of the series of openings 13 issimilarly engaged through an opening in the plate 16 and flanged on theinner face of the plate as shown at 20 in Fig. 6 of t-he drawings. Inthis manner, I avoid the comparatively expensive and tedious operationof welding the two plates` together.

The plates 15 and 16 are identical in their several structural parts andare stamped out by means of the Same die. Each of these plates isprovided at its opposite side edges with a longitudinally extendinflange 2l. These flanges at one of their en s terminate in spacedrelation to the end edge of the plate 15 which is formed with anangularly extending flange 22 extending substantially at right angles tothe plane of the door. The reinforcing plate at the opposite ends ofthis flange and between said flange and the ends of the side flanges 21is recessed as at 23 so that the ends of the flange 22 are separatedfrom the body of the plate. The purpose of this construction willhereinafter appear.

Each of the flanges 21 is provided in its end which is adjacent theflange 22 with. a notch or recess 24, and said notches or recesses areadapted to receive the hinge rod 14. One of the side flanges on eachreinforcing plate is formed with a iesiliently yieldable arm orextension 25 having an end portion extending longitudinally of the plateand terminating in a latch finger indicated at 26 which is positioned atan angle of slightly less than 90 with respect to the plane of the arm25. Each of the partition walls 9 and one of the side walls of the boxstructure has a tongue 27 struck therefrom and extending at an obliqueangle with respect to the Dlane of the partition or box wall.

Each of the partition walls 9 is further provided at its front edge andat the upper ledge of the horizontal panel 8 with a notch or recess 28,the upper edge 29 of which constitutes a stop-#shoulder against whichthe end edge of the door 10 between the reinforcing plates is adapted tocontact. Preferably though not necessarily, I also provide thevpartition walls and the side wall of the box having the tongues 27thereon with protuberances indicated at 30 formed by indenting the walland properly spaced from the tongues 27 for coaction of the latchfingers 26 therewith as will be later described.

The latch fingers 26 on the reinforcing plates 16 of the lower doors arealso adapt' ed to ride over the protuberances 3l formed on the partitionwalls 9 and one side wall y as of the box when the respective doors aremoved to open position, said finger en aging 1n a slot 32 in saidprotuberances W iereby the door will be latched in its open position.

In assembling the doors upon the box structure, after the hin e rods 14have been arranged in position, t e end edge of the door havin .theflange 22 is inserted' between one edge o 4 the horizontalpanel 8 andthe hinge rod until the hinge rod is received in the notches24." Bymeans of a suitable tool the free end portions of the flange 22 are thenangularly bent to form locking lugs 33, the ends of which are preferablyprovided with .concave seats 34 to receive the hinge rod 14. When thusdisposed in locking position it will be noted that these lugs extendsubstantially at right angles to the plane of the flange 22 an'dcooperatin with the notches or recesses 24'efectively old or lock thedoor against bodily shifting movement in an angular direction relativeto the axis of the hinge rod. At the same time. however, thedoor may befreely swung or hingedly moved upon the rod 14.

' The one-piece upper door or the individual lower doors for the severalcompartments are assembled upon the box structure in the manner abovedescribed. The resilient arms 25 carryin the latch yfingers 26- bearingon t-he box wa ls or the partitions 9 operate in the nature of frictionbrakes and check or retard the downward o ening movement of the upperdoor 10 or t e downward closing movement of the individual lower doors-11. W'hen the upper door is moved to its fully open position, the latchfingers. 26 move upon the inclined tongues 27 so that in the openposition of the door,- the resilient pressure of door 10 which isaccurately balanced on thel swing the the arms 25 on said Walls of thebox structure -is practically released. In the initial closing movementof the upper door, the latch fingers 26 in riding over the tongues 27establish the frictional braking action of the arms 25above referred to.

p When the door is moved to its closed position, the latch "lingers 26ride' over the protuberances 30 and engage against the forward sidesthereof.l The fingers 26 cooperating with these protuberances thus odersuflicient resistance to the outward swinging movement of the hinger0d'14to prevent said door from falling'to its open position. In otherwords, it is necessa oor outwardly and downwardly until the fingers 26move above and out of l contact with the protuberances 30.

This downward opening movement of the upper door is limitedto asubstantially horizontal position by reason of the 'contact of thehinged edge of the door with the stop shoulders 29 formed in thepartition wallsf9.

The upward opening .movement of the lower doors 11 is also hmited to asubstanto apply a manual force totially horizontal position by reason ofthe engagement of the angular latch fingers 26 on the arms 25 in theslots 32. Thus, the doors will be securely supported in this positionagainst a return movement by gravity to their closed positions and inorder to move the doors to the latter positions it is necessary to exerta positive downward pressure upon the free end of the door in order todisengage the spring latch finger 26 from the 0 ening 32. The resilientarm 25 pressing t is latch finger against the wall of the box structure,applies a braking action to the closing movement of the door as aboveexplained so that even though the door may be released after the latchfinger is disengaged from the slot 32it will not, in closing result inan excessive noise or place the parts of the door or the box structureunder severe strain. i I

For the purpose of enabling the name cards of the respective tenants tobe readily applied to the lower doors 11, I preferably form thereinforcing plate 16` on the inner side of the door adjacent the freeend of they door with an angular offset 35 in opposed relation to a slotor opening 36 in the door 11. The space thus afforded between theopposed surfaces of the door and the rein forcing plate 16 is open atits opposite ends so that the name card maybe readily inserted fromeither edge of the door.

The slots 17 in the up er door 10 provide convenient means where yvisitin or call-` ing cards may bereadily inserte into the and quicklyassembled upon the body structure-of. the box by unskilled labor. vAsthis assemblage of the parts is a very important consideration both inproducing a practical commercial structure and in the production coststhereof, it will be appreciated that my new construction which enablesthe 'doors to be accurately and expeditiously assembled upon the body ofthe receptacle, is of primary importance to the art. I believe it to bebroadly new to provide a structure of this kind wherein the hinge rodswhich support the door may be first inserted and mounted in the walls ofthe box structure and the doors then subsequently applied and hingedlysecured in connection with the rods. Therefore, it is to beiunderstoodthat while I have above described and illustrated in the drawings onesimple and practical embodiment of the present improvements, the sameend might possibly be attained in other alternative structures and Iaccordingly rcserve the anges in the form, construction and relativearrangement of the several parts as may be fairly embodied within thespirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

l. A mail box construction of the class 'described comprising a mail boxdivided by partition walls into a plurality of receptacles openingthrough one wall only of the box, independently operable door memberscontrolling admission to the lower end portions of the respectivereceptacles and hingedly mounted near their upper ends within the box, aone piece master door controlling admission to the upper ends of all ofthe receptacles, a hinge rod extending across the box adjacent its openside and mounted in the partition walls and side walls of the box, meanson the inner side of the master door for hingedly connecting said doorwith said rod in spaced relation to the lower edge of the door, and saidpartition walls below the hinge rod being provided in their edges withrecesses to accommodate the lower edge portion of the master door in theopening and closing movements thereof.

2. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rodmounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to one edge ofsaid opening, a door adapted to be inserted at one edge thereof betweensaid rod and the edge of the door opening, spaced flanges on said doorhaving seats to receive said rod, and manually adjustable parts carriedby said door adapted to be engaged with the rod after it has beenpositioned in said seats to thereby permanently connect the door withsaid rod for hinging movement to open and closed positions.

3. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rodmounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to one edge ofsaid opening, a door adapted to be inserted at one edge thereof betweensaid rod and the edge of the door opening, spaced parts on the doorhaving seats to receive said rod, and a flange extending from one sideof the door and having end portions 'adapted to be angularly bent andengaged with said rod to permanently connect the door with said rod forhinglng movement to open and closed positions.

4. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rodmounted in the rece tacle structure in spaced relation to one e ge ofsaid opening, a door adapted to be inserted at one ed e thereof betweensaid rod and the edge o the door opening, a reinforcing plate secured tothe inner face of the door and provided with spaced parts engaging oneside of the hinge rod, and said plate having additional parts adapted tobe thereafter adjusted into engagement with the opposite side of the rodto permanently connect the door with said rod for hinging movement toopen and closed positions.

5. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rodmounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to one edge ofsaid opening, a door adapted to be inserted at one edge thereof betweensaid rod and the edge of the door opening, a reinforcing plate securedto the inner face of the door and having a flange on each side edgethereof, said flanges at one of their ends terminating in seats toreceive said hinge rod, and said reinforcing plate adjacent to each ofsaid seats having a bendable part adapted to be thereafter adjusted intoengagement with said rod to permanently connect the door therewith forhinging movement to open and closed positions.

(l. A receptacle haring a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rodmounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to one edge ofsaid opening, a door adapted to be inserted at one edge thereof betweensaid rod and the edge of the door opening, a reinforcing )late securedto the inner face of the door ant having a fiange on each side edgethereof, said fianges at one of their ends terminating in seats toreceive said hinge rod, and said reinforcing plate at one end having anadditional flange extending between said first named fianges andprovided with bendable end portions adapted -to be bent at an angle tosaid fiange and into engagement with said rod to permanently connect thedoor therewith for hinging movement to open and closed positions.

7. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rodmounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to one edge ofsaid opening, a door for said opening, a reinforcing plate secured tothe inner face of the door and having a flange extending along one edgeof the door and in a plane substantially at right angles thereto, saidreinforcing plate at the opposite ends of said ange being provided withseats and said end edge of the door and said flange adapted to beinserted between said rod and the edge of the door opening to positionthe rod in said seats, and said flange having portions adapted to bethereafter angularly bent with respect to the iange into engagement withsaid rod to thereby permanently connectthe door with the rod for hingingmovement to open and closed positions.

8. A mail box construction of the class described comprising a mail boxdivided by partition walls into a plurality of receptacles openingthrough one wall only of said box, independently operable door memberscontrolling admission to the lower end portions of the respectivereceptacles and hingedly mounted near their upper ends within the box, aone piece master door member controlling admission to the upper endportions of all of the receptacles, a hinge rod mounted in the boxstructure ad- `the jacent the open side thereof, spaced reinforcingplates secured to the inner face of the master door member and extendingbetween the upper and lower edges thereof, each of said plates beingprovided with flanges on its opposite side edges, and means at one endthereof adapted to be hingedly connected with said rod in spacedrelation to the lower edge of the master door member, the edges of thepartition walls contacting with the inner face of the door memberbetween the flanges on the adjacent reinforcing plates when said masterdoor is closed.

9. A mail box construction of the class described comprising a mail boxdivided by partition walls into a plurality of receptacles openingthrough the front wall of said box, independently. pperable door memberscontrolling admission to the lower end portions of the respectivereceptacles and hingedly mounted near their upper ends within the box, aone piece master door member controlling admission to the upper endportions of all of the receptacles, a hinge rod for thev latter doormember fixed in the box structure adjacent said open side thereof, aplurality of reinforcingl plates upon the inner face of said door memberextending between the upper and lower edges thereof, said reinforcingplates and the door member having integrally formed coactin meansdetachably interlocking the same wit each other, -and each of saidreinforcing lates being provided with means at one of its ends forconnection with said hinge rod.

'10# A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rodmounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to ower edge ofsaid opening, adoor for said opening adapted to be inserted at one ofits ed es between said rod and the edge of the oor opening, said doorcarryinA means to ermanently connect the door wit said rod or hingingmovement to open and closed positions, and additional means vcar-l riedby .the door and exerting a frictional braking pressure against one ofthe receptacle walls.

11. A receptacle having a door opening in one wall thereof, a hinge rodmounted in the receptacle structure in spaced relation to the lower edgeof said opening, a door for said opening having a remforcin latevsecured to its inner face and proviclg'edp with means at one of its endsto rigidly connect the door with said rod for swinging movement to openand closed ositions, and said plate being provided with a longitudinallyrojecting resiliently movable arm exten ing mwardly from ,thehinge rodand frictionally bearing at its free end against one of the receptaclewalls inthe opening and closing movement of the door.

12. A mail box construction of the class described comprising a mail boxdivided by partition walls into a plurality of receptacles openingthrough the front wall of said box, independently operable door memberscontrolling admission to the lower end portions of the respectivereceptacles and hingedly mounted near their upper ,ends within the box,a one piece master door member controlling admission to the upper endportions of all of said receptacles, a hinge rod for the latter doormember fixed in the box structure adjacent the open side thereof, aplurality of reinforcing pla-tes extending uponthe inner face of saidmember between the upper' and lower edges thereof, and meansinaccessible from the outer side of the door for independentlydetachably securing said reinforcing plates to the door having an upperopening common to all of the compartments and spaced lower openings forthe individual compartments and a panel separating said upper and loweropenings from each other, hinge rods mounted in the rece tacle structureand respe'ctively spaced a ove and below said anel in parallel relationtherewith, a single oor for the upper ends of said compartments, spacedreinforcing plates secured to the inner face of said door, saidpartitions being recessed to receive the lower edge of the door insertedbetween the lower ed e of the upper o ening and one of said hinge rods,and eac of 4 said reinforcing plates provided with means adapted to beengaged with thehinge rod to permanently connect the door therewith forswinging movement to open and closed ositions, and said recesses in theartltion plates providing stop shoulders limiting the opening movement osaid door, and separate doors for the lower ends of said compartmentseach having means ada ted for engagement with the other of sai hin rodsto connect the door therewith for in e ndent swinging movement to itsopen or c osed positions.

14. A receptacle having a. door openin in one wall thereof, a hinge rodmounte in door opening and said rod to engage the latter in sai seats,and said flange having bendable parts adapted to be thereafter engagedwith the rod to hingedly connect the door therewith for swinglngmovement to open and closed positions.

15. A. receptacle having spaced vertical partitions therein providingseparate compartments, a front plate for the receptacle having anopening common to all of the compartments, each of said partitionshaving its front edge recessed at the lower edge of said opening, ahinge rod mounted in the receptacle structure above and in spaced 15parallel relation to the lower edge of said opening, a door for saidopenin adapted lo he inserted at one of its'edges etween the lower edgeof the opening and said rod and provided with spaced means for hingedlyconnecting the door to Said rod, and said recesses in the artitionsproviding stop shoulders engaged) by said edge of the door to limit theopening movement of the door to a substantially horizontal position withrespect to the front plate of the receptacle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name hereto.

SAMUEL HAMMER.

